Slowing down and taking things easier as we get older could be a big mistake. Instead, we should stay active for as long as we can. Inactivity, especially during retirement, could be one of the big drivers of the epidemic of chronic diseases, new research suggests. Staying active as we get older promotes processes in the body that support healthy aging, such as the release of antioxidants and anti-inflammatories, and improves blood flow, say researchers from Harvard University. As a result, we reduce our risk of chronic illnesses such as type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease and some cancers. It doesn’t only make good sense—it could be in our evolutionary make-up. The scientists discovered from 40,000-year-old fossils that hunter-gatherers were active for around 135 minutes every day—roughly six to 10 times more than the average American today—and lived to around the age of 70. Although we evolved to be physically active throughout our lives, the amount of exercise we need to do isn’t daunting. Even moderate activity for just 20 minutes a day lowers our risk of chronic disease and an early death.
Proc Natl Acad Sci USA, 2021; 118(50): e2107621118
Why thyroid cancer is becoming a male disease
Obesity is a major cause of thyroid cancer, responsible for up to 40 percent of cases in men and 10 percent in women. Although being overweight has long been recognized as a cause of the cancer, researchers have recently been able to calculate the risk and how it differs between the sexes. The figure is far higher than earlier research had suggested, and it highlights the importance of losing weight and eating a healthier diet, say researchers from the University of New South Wales. They discovered that two in five thyroid cancers in men, and one in 10 cases in women, were the direct result of obesity and being overweight, although they were unable to explain the differences between men and women. Thyroid cancer is usually two to three times more common in women, but rising obesity levels could explain why more men are developing the cancer. Around 75 percent of men in Australia are overweight or obese, compared to 60 percent of women.
